A tire-melting beast like the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a special car for those fans who believe there is no such thing as extra power. It’s so appealing, in fact, that several decided to help themselves to six Dodge Hellcats in about 40 seconds from a Kentucky dealer. So how did they escape the supercharged SRT six in less than a minute?
How did car thieves steal Dodge Hellcats?
Thieves broke into a Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Somerset, Kentucky. Then they stole the cars using the vehicle keys and pulled Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats out of the showroom.
One of the Hellcats already had the keys on board, which made taking the car even easier. Before the thieves left with their bootleg Hellcats, they applied license plates to new Dodge models.
What happened after the robbery?
The robbers drove off into the night, but police later caught up with four Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats on a nearby highway. When the authorities tried to stop the traffic, the thieves tried to flee. A police officer in a high-speed chase said the Hellcats “accelerated to over 180 miles per hour.”
As the chase continued, one of the robbers, Cavis Jones, 19, drove his car over a countermeasure in the Spike Bar, according to local authorities. When the car stopped, Jones was arrested by the police. The other three pursuing Hellcats manage to escape.
However, even with a robbery spree lasting less than a minute, police have already recovered five out of six Dodge models in Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee. Also a good thing; The agency director told WHAS11 that “the six cars totaled nearly $600,000.” Unfortunately, the last supercharged Dodge model is still missing. However, supercharged SRTs aren’t exactly known for their precision.
Are Hellcats stolen a lot?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Casualties Investigation Division reports that five times more Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats and Dodge Chargers were stolen than the average 2016 to 2018 cars.
Specifically, Hemi-powered Dodge Chargers topped the list, with about 544 claims over two years. The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat 529 had a steal claim, ahead of the Infiniti Q50 sedan’s 525.
Why is the Hellcat so powerful?
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a desirable car primarily because of its huge power reserves. It produces up to 717 horsepower in the Hellcat and 797 in the Hellcat Redeye, thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine.
Moreover, the previous models are similarly powerful. The very first version, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, produced 707 horsepower, which immediately made it one of the most popular cars in the world.
Can you still buy a Hellcat?
Instead of stealing a Dodge Hellcat, getting arrested, and spending time in jail, fans can still buy one. Unfortunately, 2023 is the last year for the Challenger and Charger models. Dodge will stop cars after it launches its festive models.
